Keller collects Friday checkers at Ocean

WATSONVILLE, Iowa (Sept. 25-26) – Bobby Hogge IV stood in victory lane at Ocean Speedway after the IMCA Modified finish that had everybody talking. Hogge chased race-long leader Troy Foulger, then made his last-lap move to the front on the higher line for the $3,006 checkers on night two of the Pettit Shootout at Watsonville. The Pettit win was Hogge’s fifth in the 10 years the special, one of the premier events in IMCA’s Shaw Race Cars Western Region, has been held. “Any time you get a win it’s special and we had almost the whole who’s who in California racing was here this weekend,” the Salinas veteran said, noting the 60-plus IMCA Modifieds and 50-plus Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods entered in the season-ending special. “Ocean is my home track. It’s 25 miles from my doorstep and I’ve raced with the Pettit family for a long time.”  Foulger had led the first 32 laps after starting outside pole. Robby Sawyer raced his way from 10th starting to second while Hogge made his way ahead from seventh.  [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage WATSONVILLE, Calif. (April 9) – The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern Sport Mods made their second appearance of the 2021 season at Ocean Speedway Friday evening.  On the opening start of the main event, Billy Robertson was the first to pace the field.  A caution on the second lap bunched the field up, preventing Robertson from building a large lead. On the restart, Fred Ryland maneuvered his way to the front and was the leader of the third circuit.  Once the Brentwood veteran obtained the top place position, Ryland began to check out from the rest of the pack. However, Ryland was not able to construct too large of a lead as an additional five stoppages occurred, which also took out the factor of lapped traffic.  Despite the slowdowns and restarts, Ryland, who started eight,h won his fifth Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature of the new season.   Randy Miller was the runner-up with third place going to Jim DiGiovanni.  Adriane Frost placed fourth while Trevor Clymens wound up fifth.

By Steven Blakesley WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2023) – Details have been unveiled for the prestigious 13th annual Pat and Jim Pettit Memorial Shootout on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 29 and 30 from Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. The annual event pays tribute to the parents of Hall of Famer Jim Pettit II and features Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods racing in complete programs each night at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds dirt track. The main event is Saturday’s 103-lap IMCA Modified blockbuster, paying $3,006 to win and $206 to start. SportMods race for $1,006 to win that evening. Friday action pays $1,003 in the Modifieds and $553 in the SportMods. Both Modified feature winners become eligible to qualify for the 2024 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. During Saturday’s 103 lap Modified feature, caution flag laps will not count and all drivers a single lap down will receive a lucky dog during caution flags (except for during the lap 50 break). The lap 50 break will be a seven-minute break for fuel [Read More]